Chapter Eighteen
Savannah
“Savannah!” I feel my shoulder being shaken roughly. “Savannah, wake up!” Cole whispers urgently.
“Okay, I’m awake. What’s wrong?”
Cole tosses clothes at me.
“Get dressed,” he says, pulling on his pants. “Quickly, we don’t have time!”
My mind scrambles as I tug at my clothes and slip on my boots.
“Here!” He hands me my jacket. “Follow me.” He grabs my hand and opens the bedroom door, checking to see if it’s clear. “Come on!” He hurries down the hall. Why aren’t we using the back stairway?
“Where are we going?”
He doesn’t answer, stopping as he unlocks Abigail’s room. Abigail, June, and Sue are huddled on her bed, looking terrified.
“Stay here, no matter what. Don’t open the door. I’m the only one with a key.” Cole holds my shoulders as he bends down to eye level. “You’ll be safe. Wait for me.” He kisses me then instructs June to lock the door behind him.
“No, Cole, wait!”
“Savannah, stay!” he orders.
I look toward the women, feeling completely confused since I was woken out of a dead sleep. My mind is madly trying to come to terms with what is going on.
“Come here.” Sue pats the mattress beside her. “Tell me, Savannah, when you guys were coming down the hallway, did you hear anything, see anything?”
“No.” I shake my head. “I don’t think so.”
“Oh, God, this is bad,” June cries. “I always knew this day would come, but now…” She reaches for her sister’s hand and starts to pray.
“I don’t understand. What’s going on?” I ask.
“The Cartels,” Abigail says in a strangled voice. “Mark said there are at least twelve of them.”
“Oh, my God,” I say, starting to shake, “this is all my fault.”
“No, dear,” is all June says.
There’s a pounding on the door, and we all scream at once. Someone yells something in Spanish, then the door blasts open. Wood chips fly all around us, and we’re momentarily stunned before Abigail starts screaming at the top of her lungs.
I see a black AK-47 rise out of the dust and flash three bright bursts of light followed by a thud.
June flies to her sister’s side as two more flashes appear, and then June flops to the floor on top of Abigail. I feel Sue fling herself on top of me, pushing me back on the bed as her body gives four violent shakes, then goes limp. Her blood drains all around me, covering my face and hair as I struggle to get free. When she falls to the side, I see The American standing in the doorway, wiping his hands with a white handkerchief.
“Time to go,” he says, like nothing has happened. Like he hasn’t just killed three people I love! I ignore him and rush to Sue, holding her cooling body in my arms as I try to bring her back, but she’s so pale.
“Please,” I cry, choking on a sob, “wake up!” There is so much blood. The American grips my arm and pulls me toward the door.
“I said time to go!”
“No!” I scream. “Please!”
“Savannah! Savannah!”
My eyes open as I leap out of bed, still screaming for my friends. I run for the door when a strong pair of arms wrap around me. “How could you kill them?” I sob. “They’re my family.”